THIRD MURDERER   Hark, I hear horses. BANQUO        (within) Give us a light there, ho! SECOND MURDERER            Then ’tis he. The rest That are within the note of expectation Already are i’th’ court. FIRST MURDERER                His horses go about. THIRD MURDERER   Almost a mile; but he does usually, So all men do, from hence to th’ palace […]

Enter three Murderers FIRST MURDERER    But who did bid thee join with us? THIRD MURDERER   Macbeth. SECOND MURDERER            He needs not our mistrust, since he delivers Our offices and what we have to do To the direction just. FIRST MURDERER    Then stand with us. The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day. Now spurs […]

MACBETH      Light thickens, and the crow Makes wing to th’ rooky wood. Good things of day begin to droop and drowse, Whiles night’s black agents to their preys do rouse.— Thou marvell’st at my words; but hold thee still. Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill. So prithee go with me. Exeunt             (3.2.51-57)   […]

LADY              What’s to be done? MACBETH      Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed.— Come, seeling night, Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day, And with thy bloody and invisible hand Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond Which keeps me pale. (3.2.45-51)   What’s to be done? A simple […]

LADY              You must leave this. MACBETH      O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife. Thou know’st that Banquo and his Fleance lives. LADY              But in them nature’s copy’s not eterne. MACBEH        There’s comfort yet. They are assailable. Then be thou jocund. Ere the bat hath flown His cloistered flight, ere to black Hecate’s summons […]

LADY              Come on, gentle my lord, Sleek o’er your rugged looks, be bright and jovial Among your guests tonight. MACBETH      So shall I, love, And so I pray be you. Let your remembrance Apply to Banquo; present him eminence both With eye and tongue. Unsafe the while that we Must lave our honours in these […]

MACBETH      But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer, Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep In the affliction of these terrible dreams That shake us nightly. Better be with the dead Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace Than on the torture of the mind […]

Enter Macbeth LADY  How now, my lord, why do you keep alone, Of sorriest fancies your companions making, Using those thoughts which should indeed have died With them they think on? Things without all remedy Should be without regard. What’s done is done. MACBETH      We have scorched the snake, not killed it. She’ll close, and […]

Enter Macbeth’s Lady and a Servant LADY              Is Banquo gone from court? SERVANT       Ay, madam, but returns again tonight. LADY              Say to the King I would attend his leisure For a few words. SERVANT       Madam, I will. Exit LADY              Naught’s had, all’s spent, Where our desire is got without content. ’Tis safer to be that […]

MACBETH                              And with him, To leave no rubs nor botches in the work, Fleance his son, that keeps him company, Whose absence is no less material to me Than is his father’s, must embrace the fate Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart; I’ll come to you anon. BOTH MURDERERS   We are resolved, my lord. […]